Tag: disaster
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Dark Tide by Stephen Puleo
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Dark Tide: You’ll never think of a sugar rush the same way again. Quick synopsis: A recounting of the Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919. You heard me right. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In 1919, a giant vat of molasses in Boston burst, sending a flood of molasses through…
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A Night to Remember by Walter Lord
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Night to Remember: Better than the movie. Certainly shorter. Quick synopsis: The classic retelling of the sinking of the Titanic. Enough said. This book was used as reference material for James Cameron when he wrote Titanic. Walter Lord wrote it in 1955. I believe that’s the definition of timeless. Fun…
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The Mirage Factory by Gary Krist
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Mirage Factory: L.A. was full of crazy people from the beginning. Quick synopsis: The story of the origins and early years of L.A. as it was becoming the city we know today. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: In trying to bring enough water to the fast-growing population of L.A.,…
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The Children’s Blizzard by David Laskin
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for The Children’s Blizzard: If this book doesn’t make you cry then you are a sociopath. Quick synopsis: The story of the blizzard of 1888 in the Midwest which surprised the heartland and caused massive sadness. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Weather forecasting used to be much worse! And in the…
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Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Close to Shore: Here’s another reason never to go to New Jersey. Quick synopsis: The story of a rogue shark which terrified the New Jersey Shore in 1916. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Ever wonder why when you watch an old movie all the telephone operators are ladies? Turns out,…
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Random Musing: Disaster Books and Guilt
What’s this musing about: Am I messed up in the head for liking disaster books so much? I love disaster books. They are all my cup of tea from blizzards and firestorms to shipwrecks (personal fav) and Arctic survival. There is something about the desperation, the heroism, and the adrenaline rush or reading about real…
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Chernobyl (HBO)
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Chernobyl: In Soviet Russia, miniseries make you look incompetent and corrupt. Quick synopsis: The story of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: The miniseries shows what happens when you look into an open nuclear core even for a few seconds. Spoiler alert: You die. Fun…
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Battle of the Books on the White Hurricane
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline: The perfect storm was a drizzle compared to this. Quick synopsis: The story of the Great Lakes (Snow) Hurricane of 1913. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: This storm was so destructive that 12 ships sank and over 248 people lost their lives. And you’ve probably never heard of it. Fun Fact…
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Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Midnight in Chernobyl: In Soviet Russia, things go boom! Quick synopsis: An in-depth look at the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Russia in 1986. Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Marie Curie and her husband discovered polonium and radium. Her notes on them are so radioactive they are still…